Date of Birth: September 16, 1950
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Biography
Henry Louis Gates Jr. is an esteemed American literary critic, professor, historian, and filmmaker. He is currently the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. Gates has made significant contributions to the study and promotion of African-American literature and culture. He gained widespread recognition for his work on the PBS series “Finding Your Roots,” where he explores the genealogy of famous Americans. Gates has authored numerous books, articles, and scholarly works that have influenced the fields of African-American studies and literary criticism.
5 Interesting Facts about Henry Louis Gates
1. Henry Louis Gates Jr. was the first African American to receive the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship.
2. He helped to establish the African American Studies program at Yale University.
3. Gates was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as a “genius grant,” in 1981.
4. He has been involved in editing several critical anthologies, including “The Norton Anthology of African American Literature.”
5. Gates was named one of Time magazine’s “25 Most Influential Americans” in 1997.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henry Louis Gates
1. “Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice.”
2. “The first step toward tolerance is respect, and the first step toward respect is knowledge.”
3. “You can’t hate someone whose story you know.”
4. “The greatest challenge facing black America today is the divide between the poor and the middle class.”
5. “I don’t think there’s any better education than learning the roots of your own identity.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million.
Children
Henry Louis Gates Jr. has two daughters, Maggie and Liza Gates.
Relevant Links
4. [Henry Louis Gates Jr. on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309540/
5. [The Norton Anthology of African American Literature](https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393911558
